We're quickly approaching the time of year where kids go back to school, and Microsoft is supporting that by expanding on the number of platforms capable of running Minecraft: Education Edition.
In a post on the Minecraft Education blog, Microsoft announced that Minecraft: Education Edition is now available for Chromebooks. Microsoft sees adding support for Google's cloud operating system as "part of our mission to support teachers, students, and families during this unique transition," and by transition it means the current situation where remote, hybrid, and in-person teaching all need to be catered for due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Education Edition of Minecraft was first introduced back in 2016 as a tweaked version of the very popular game to allow for learning and classroom collaboration between students. It supports coding, problem solving, and is packed full of design challenges and lessons centered around the STEM curricula. It's a teaching platform that clearly works, with over 115 countries using it to teach students according to Microsoft.
With coronavirus being an ongoing health threat, remote learning has become increasingly important, not just for education, but to allow students to continue to form relationships with educators and fellow students who are no longer in the same room as them. According to Welsh educator and Minecraft Mentor James Protheroe, "Minecraft is helping them make sense of what’s happening. They can share their thoughts and reasoning, offload stress, and learn in a safe environment."
Microsoft has made Minecraft: Education Edition available to download in the Google Play Store, which is where Chromebook users should head to grab a copy. It does require Android apps be enabled on each device, but full instructions are provided for students and educators at the Minecraft help center.
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